Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo vows to go after estranged fathers who refused to give child support.
Tulfo told GMA News that he will help single mothers who are struggling to make ends meet due to the failure of their partners to give financial support to their children.
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“Isa ‘yung mga single parents na nagkakaproblema na ‘yung bastardo nilang ex, yung bastardo na mga ama ng kanilang mga anak, ayaw magsustento. Susulatan ng DSWD, kasi wala silang malapitan ngayon,” Tulfo said.
“I will encourage them to come to the DSWD, we will help them out. We will write letters. If not, we will file cases against the father of the children para mag-sustento because it is under the law now,” Tulfo added.
Tulfo reiterated that not being married is not an excuse to neglect children.
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“Marami pong hindi nakakaalam, akala nila dahil hindi sila kasal pero andun yung pangalan sa birth certificate ay libre sila. Mali po yun. You have to pay o ika nga sustentuhan mo yung anak kahit di kayo kasal o kahit na-impregnate mo lang ‘yung babae pero andun sa birth certificate yung name mo. You have to pay ika nga sustento to your child,” he added.
Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 criminalizes individuals who refused to give financial support to children legally due them.
